Bicycle.



-Patented Dec. 5, |899.

J. M. BAKER.

B IC Y C L E.

(Application filed Dec. 27, 1897.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

AKER Patented Dec 5 lBICYGLE ph a,

c non led Dec 27 /l' ,y f.; f,

(No M Ddel.)

2 She ets-sh eet 2 l Humm m i,I,ggmgmmm|n|||||||mlm!IIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIIII"Wm* s ummmlllllllllllmlIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIII! UNTTED STATES PATENT @Prion JEREMIAH M. BAKER, OF` LAFAYETTE HILL, PENNSYLVANIA.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 638,310, dated :December 5, 1899.

Application ined December 27,1897. serial No. 663.659. dto model.;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEREMIAH M. BAKER, residing at Lafayette Hill, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Bicycle, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to bicycles, and has for its object to provide improved means whereby excessive vibration and shocks incident to the encountering obstacles or irregularities in the roadway are prevented and smooth and easy riding assured.

The invention consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and afterward specifically' pointed out in the claims.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention most'nearly appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction andoperation, having reference to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective View of the forward portion of a bicycle provided with my improvement. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view showing the ball-bearings rmediately-pivoted lever.

. section of the two-part front forks, and B the tube thereof.

C indicates the forks of the lower section of the front forks supporting the front wheel at their lower ends and having the crown D, which is movable in the enlarged crown A of the upper section, and also with the stem E, which moves in the tubeB and has secured to its upper end the flexible washer F. This stem constitutes a piston and the washer F a packing therefor, for the purpose to be presently set forth. The upper section of the front fork is provided with the short tubular fork-sections G, in which the forks C are movable. A pneumatic cushion is positioned within the enlarged crown A and interposed between the upper wall of said crown and the crown of the lower section, a valve I being provided, projecting through the upper wall of the crown A, whereby the cushion may be readily inflated.

When an obstruction or inequality is encountered bythe front wheel, the sliding section of the two-part fork moves upwardly, compressing the pneumatic cushion, and thus preventing the vibration or jar of the bicycle, which now occurs with the rigid frame. It will be understood that springs might be interposed between the fork-sections, it' desired, instead of the pneumatic cushion.

To further assist in preventing the yjar and vibration of the bicycle, I provide the handlebars .I with an air-chamber K at the lower end of the stem andv provide an air-tube L, communicating at its lower end with. the chamber and at its upper end extending through the handle-bars and provided with a valve. By this means air maybe pumped into the chamber by anf ordinary air-pump. When the handle-bar stem is positioned in the tube B of the front forks, the chamber M is formed therebeneath, and a communication N is provided between said chamber and the chamber K through the bottom wall of the latter, which is normally closed by a valve O, which prevents the passage of air downward from chamber K'to chamber M, but permits the upward passage of the air from the latter to the former. Small openings P are formed in the bottom wall of chamber K, so that there is normally a communication between said chamber and chamber M. The operation of this part of my invention is as follows: Air is pumped into chamber K and passes downward, filling chamber M. Vhen an obstruction or inequality is encountered, the lower section of the front forks moves upwardly, the stem or piston E moving in chamber B forcing the air upwardly into chamber K and compressing the same, the valve O permitting the IOO tion of the forks within theupper section.

smooth and easy, I enlarge the tubular sec- 'tions G of the forks, as indicated at Q, and

provide the antifriction-balls R, which are engaged by the forks C of the lower section of the front forks.

S S are the rims connecting the rear forks with the crank-hanger, said runs being enlarged vertically and communicating with each other adjacentthe crank-han ger through the medium of a casing T, formed integral therewith.

Levers U are intermediately pivoted in the runs upon pivots U', provided with the antifriction-balls V and at their rear ends are slotted, as illustrated at W, to receive the axle of the rear wheel. The forward ends of these levers are curved inwardly and` united by a block W', bolts X passingthrough said levers and block and securing the same together.

A pneumatic cushion Y isarranged in the casingl T, and the united forward ends of the levers are-adapted to rest thereon.

When an inequality or obstruction isvencountered by the rear wheel, the rear ends of the levers move upwardly, depressing their forward endsand compressing the pneumatic cushion. Thus the jar and vibration of the bicycle are prevented.

A valve Z is provided for the cushion Y, which extends through the casing T to the exterior thereof, where it may be engaged by an air-pump for inliating thel cushion. It will be understood that springs might be arranged beneath the forward ends of said leversin'lieu of the pneumatic cushionwithout in any way departing from the spirit of my invention.

A iiexiblestop Z is provided to arrest the upward movement of the forward endsof the levers when theobstruction has been passed and said levers returned to their normal positions, thusrendering the movement of the levers entirely noiselcss.

In Fig. 7 I illustrate a slight modification of the forward ends of' the levers, which are formed angular, as shown at a, to engage the pneumatic cushion.

From the above description it will be seen that; I have produced al1-improved bicycle in which the excessive vibration and jar incident to a rigid frame are obviated and that I have utilized the pneumatic principle for accomplishing the same, although, as before stated, springs might be used, the frame being simple in construction and neat in appearance.

While I have illustrated and described the best means now known to me for carrying out my invention, I do not wish to be understood as restricting myself to the exact details of construction shown and described, but hold that any slight changes or variations such as might suggest themselves to the ordinary mechanic'will properly fall within the limit and scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and'desireto-secureby Letters Patent of theUnited Statesis- 1. In a bicycle, the combination of the steeringfstem having an enlarged crown at the lower end thereof, thefront forks movable vertically in said' crown and havingl a crown within the crownof the steeringfstem, and an elastic cushion arrangedin said Icrown and engaged by the crown of the front forks substantially as set forth.

2. In a bicycle', the combination with the handle-bars having anfair-chamber formed at the lower end of the stem, an air-chamber formed inthe steering-stem below the airchamber of the handle-bars, said air-chambers having a communication controlled by an upwardly-pressible valve, the front forks carrying'a piston which is movable vertically in the air-chamber of the steering-stem, and a restricted passage between the two chambers, substantially as set forth.

3. Ina bicycle, the combination withthe rear forks, rear brace and crank-hanger, of a rigid structure comprising a pair of; bars at tached to the rear forks and connected to each other and to the crank-axle, a'lever centrally pivoted to each of said barsand r supporting the rear axle, a block connectingthe forward ends of said levers, and ayielding` cushion above and below said block, substantially as shown and described.

J EREMIAH M; BAKER;

Witnesses:

A. I. CAssEL. CHARLOTTE BAKER.

IOO 

